NBA power rankings: Week 1

The regular season has officially started, every team has played and there have been some surprises.
This list ranks all 30 of the NBA teams based on Deseret News analysis.

30
Detroit Pistons

Carlos Osorio, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 25

Team Record: 0-3

Streak: L3

The Pistons have been horrible for years now, and starting the season 0-3 doesn't look promising. Maybe Detroit will start 4-20 again.

29
Charlotte Bobcats

MIKE MCCARN, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 30

Team Record: 1-1

Streak: L1

Charlotte had the worst record in the NBA last season and isn't expected to do much this season. It's a bit surprising the team has already won a game, but this team still isn't going places.

28
Toronto Raptors

Lance Murphey, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 22

Team Record: 1-2

Streak: W1

The team is young and 15 of its first 22 games are on the road. Making the playoffs might not be very likely.

27
Sacramento Kings

Ravell Call, Deseret News

ESPN preseason ranking: 26

Team Record: 0-3

Streak: L3

Sacramento is full of really young players who are trying to figure out how to play at the highest level.

26
Phoenix Suns

Ross D. Franklin, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 24

Team Record: 1-2

Streak: L1

With the team's former best player, Steve Nash running the show, this team will struggle to do very much and is a long shot at making the playoffs. Losing to the Magic 115-94 in the third game of the season doesn't help.

25
Cleveland Cavaliers

Amy Sancetta, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 28

Team Record: 1-2

Streak: L2

The Cavs are close to being 2-1 after barely losing to the Bucks. But this team lacks experience, as 10 players have two seasons or less of experience.

24
Washington Wizards

Ann Heisenfelt, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 27

Team Record: L2

Streak: 0-2

The Wizards are off to a shaky 0-2 start which is expected from a team saddled with injury. Joh Wall is out for the month of November with a knee injury, Hilario Nene and Kevin Seraphin are injured too but will be back sooner.

23
New Orleans Hornets

Gus Ruelas, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 23

Team Record: 2-1

Streak: W2

This team could easily be 3-0 after barely losing to the undefeated Spurs. But the team is still young and No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis has already suffered a concussion.

22
Orlando Magic

Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 29

Team Record: 2-0

Streak: W2

After trading away Dwight Howard and getting practically nothing in return, the Magic are a surprising 2-0. The Magic ran all over Phoenix, beating the Suns 115-94.

21
Golden State Warriors

Rich Pedroncelli, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 19

Team Record: 2-1

Streak: W1

Making the playoffs this season would be just the second time in the last 18, for the franchise which seems to be rebuilding constantly. For that to happen, Stephen Curry and Andrew Bogut need to stay healthy, something they struggle to do.

20
Milwaukee Bucks

Mike Roemer, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 18

Team Record: 2-0

Streak: W2

This team has just missed the playoffs for the last two seasons. It's hard to think the team made the changes needed to make the playoffs this time. But starting 2-0 is definitely getting off on the right foot.

19
Denver Nuggets

Matt York, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 7

Team Record: 0-3

Streak: L3

Starting 0-3 is never good. But the there's so much talent on this team that it's hard to panic too much, this early in the season.

18
Portland Trail Blazers

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

ESPN preseason ranking: 20

Team Record: 2-1

Streak: W1

Damian Lillard had a strong preseason and is doing pretty well so far in regular season play. Having an All-Star at the forward position doesn't hurt either. But it's too early to tell if Portland has enough pieces to be competitive this season.

17
Houston Rockets

Pat Sullivan, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 21

Team Record: 2-1

Streak: L1

Getting Harden definitely helps the Rockets, as evidenced by his 37 points in his Rockets' debut. But it's unclear if the Rockets have enough to make the playoffs.

16
Minnesota Timberwolves

Jim Mone, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 17

Team Record: 1-1

Streak: W1

If Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio can stay healthy, the Timberwolves could have an outside shot at making the playoffs.

15
Utah Jazz

Jim Urquhart, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 10

Team Record: 1-2

Streak: L2

Much of this team's success depends on its play on the road. So far, playing away from home is still hard on this team.

14
Philadelphia 76ers

Kathy Kmonicek, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 14

Team Record: 1-1

Streak: L1

Getting crushed by the Knicks hurts this team, but so does Andrew Bynum's knee, not to mention Jason Richardson's ankle.

13
Dallas Mavericks

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

ESPN preseason ranking: 16

Team Record: 2-1

Streak: W2

After getting throttled by the Jazz in the second half, the Mavericks have done pretty well without All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.

12
New York Knicks

Jeff Zelevansky, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 15

Team Record: 2-0

Streak: W2

The Knicks will probably end the season making the playoffs as a seventh or eight seed and lose in the first round, just like the last two seasons.

11
Atlanta Hawks

Todd Kirkland, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 13

Team Record: 1-1

Streak: W1

Beating the Thunder helps this team's stock. The Hawks should make the playoffs again this season, even after losing Joe Johnson.

10
Chicago Bulls

John Bazemore, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 12

Team Record: 2-1

Streak: L1

With former MVP Derek Rose out for much of the season after tearing his ACL in the playoffs, this team will have to rely on its defense. Something it did pretty well last season.

9
Brooklyn Nets

Mel Evans, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 11

Team Record: 1-0

Streak: W1

If Deron Williams' troubled ankle can hold up, then this team might be able to make some noise in the East.

8
Memphis Grizzlies

Lance Murphey, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 9

Team Record: 1-1

Streak: W1

The Grizzlies still has some good players but there's really no reason to believe this team will do more than it did last year.

7
Boston Celtics

Jim Rogash, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 4

Team Record: 1-2

Streak: W1

Many analysts were saying Boston might be the only team in the East with a chance to stop Miami in the playoffs but starting the season 1-2 doesn't exactly make that case. Sure, it's early in the season, but the team's only win came by three against the ailing Wizards.

6
LA Lakers

Mark J. Terrill, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 3

Team Record: 1-3

Streak: W1

The Lakers went 0-8 in the preseason and lost three regular season games before beating the horrible Pistons. Head coach Mike Brown might have a problem on his hands.

5
LA Clippers

Eric Gay, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 6

Team Record: 2-1

Streak: L1

There's no doubt about it, this team is fun to watch. But the Clippers got handled by the Spurs in the Playoffs last season and there's no reason to believe the team has improved beyond that.

4
Oklahoma City Thunder

DON EMMERT, AP

ESPN ranking: 5

Team Record: 1-2

Streak: L1

Starting a season 1-2 after trading Sixth Man of the Year James Harden doesn't look good for the Thunder. This team will be good this season, but no one knows how much the loss of Harden could affect this team.

3
Indiana Pacers

Darron Cummings, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 8

Team Record: 2-1

Streak: W1

Danny Granger, the team's best player, is struggling with a knee injury. But this team still has the capacity to do well. The Pacers might be the only team in the East that can stop the Heat in the playoffs.

2
San Antonio Spurs

Jae C. Hong, AP

ESPN preseason ranking: 2

Team Record: 3-0

Streak: W3

The Spurs just never seem to age. With so much experience and efficiency, don't be shocked if this team goes deep into the postseason. Even after the Jazz went on a 13-0 run to tie the game going into the fourth quarter, San Antonio didn't falter. The Spurs are still a very elite team.

1
Miami Heat

Mike Ehrmann, AP, Pool

ESPN preseason ranking: 1

Team Record: 2-1

Streak: W1

Adding Ray Allen to a team that already had three of the top 20 players in the league, only makes this team even more likely to win another championship. Allen has already proven to be clutch for the hit, and only three games have been played.